DANVILLE — Danville Police Chief Rick Padgett announced the Danville Police Department is one of 60 grant recipients in the state to take delivery of a MedReturn II Drug Collection Unit from the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) and the Office of the State Drug Director.

This unit is available for the general public to properly dispose of unused or expired medication. A ceremony took place Tuesday at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock. Attending with Chief Padgett was Officer Tommy Broadstock.

The Arkansas Trauma System’s Injury and Violence Prevention funds purchased these units as part of an important community-based collaborative to address illicit and illegal use of prescription drugs — a priority injury and violence prevention initiative.

Chief Padgett stated he was very grateful to State Drug Director Fran Flener for this opportunity to apply and receive another tool we can use to combat drug abuse.

“The statistics are startling on prescription drug abuse among teenagers,” he said. “Deaths among teenagers have more than doubled within the last decade and nationwide we’re losing more teens to drug abuse than in car accidents.

“We really need to get the word out to parents and any other family members or friends that have teenage children to please get these unused or expired prescription pills disposed of properly and also keep any currently prescribed medication secured and accounted for.

These drugs have a great purpose when used as prescribed, but when in the wrong hands they can be as dangerous as any illicit drug on the street. Statistics show more than four in 10 teens (42 percent) who have misused or abused a prescription drug obtained it from their parent’s medicine cabinet.”

The collection unit will be located at the Danville City Hall. The unit can take prescription or non-prescription medications, prescription patches or ointments, vitamins, sample packs, pet medications or prescription creams. It cannot take inhalers or aerosols, needles, lotions or liquids, hydrogen peroxide or thermometers.